Container opener



Nov. 14, 1961 R. c. E. CAPRONl CONTAINER OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1959 Fig.

Raymond C. E Capranl' INVENTOR.

Among:

Nov. 14, 1961 R. c. E. CAPRONI 3,008,231

CONTAINER OPENER Filed June 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s l W 1 Q 35 45 mg Raymond C. E Capram' 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,008,231 CONTAINER OPENER Raymond C. E. Caproni, Dallas, Tex. (2462 Morningside Drive, Mobile, Ala.) Filed June 11, 1959, Ser. No. 819,621 6 Claims. (Cl. 30-17) This invention relates to can openers and more particularly to a side opener for a container.

Although the possible uses of the can opener which is constructed in accordance with this invention, are multiple, one of the principal functions of the invention is to open sealed containers such as disclosed in my colagisiging US. application Serial No. 819,157 filed June 9,

Actually, the only requirement for successful operation of the can opener disclosed herein is that it be applied Onto an essentially cylindrical can, tightened and used. However, the can opener functions best in those instances wherein the cans have a circumferential ridge by which to guide the can opener in its path of travel circumferentially around the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opener which has a frame adapted to fit around a can, the frame preferably having at least one and preferably two idler rollers which serve as guides when the peripheries of the roller have the circumferential ridge nested therein. A cutting wheel is opposed to the rollers and is adjustable toward and away from the rollers by a simple manipulation, for instance by rotating the handle which is drivingly connected by mechanical movement to the cutter wheel. The cutter wheel is constrained in its travel since it also has a roller section which is grooved to receive the same ridge as the idler rollers.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the opener showing it in place on a sealed container.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the structural organization of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional View, with parts in elevation and taken approximately on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, the sealed container being omitted.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the handle of the can opener.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a part of the frame of the can opener.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a sealed container 10 having a side wall 12, a closure 14 provided with a skirt or cylindrical side wall 16, together with an inwardly projecting groove 18 behind side wall 16. The lower end of the wall or skirt 16 is joined to a double wall portion 20 of the container by means of a double seam 22 at a place located below groove 18. The double seam 22 constitutes a ridge extending circumferentially around the container and by which to guide the can opener 26.

Can opener 26 which constitutes the subject matter of the invention subsequently claimed herein, is composed of a frame 28. The frame has an arcuate part 30 of a length in excess of a semi-circle, together with a substantially rectangular part 32 fixed to one end of the part 30, for instance by being spot welded or integrally joined.

3,008,231 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 Rectangular part 32 has a top wall 33-, a bottom wall 34 slightly longer than the top wall 33 and to which part is fixed, and parallel walls 35 and 36. Walls 35 and 36 have aligned apertures 37 and 38 with the aperture 37 having a larger diameter than aperture 38. Further, aperture 38 has a key 39 extending radially inwardly thereof to function in keyway 40 of externally threaded extension shank 41.

The externally threaded extension shank is passed through a threaded passageway of nut 42, the nut being captive between walls 35, 33 and 36 of part 32 of the frame. The nut has an internally threaded counterbore within which the threaded neck 44 of handle 45 is fastened. A non-threaded part of shank 44 is mounted for rotation in aperture 37, and the main body of handle 45 has an internal passageway 46 (FIGURE 4) to receive the extension shank 41. In actuation of the extension shank, handle 45 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise depending on which way the shank is intended to be extended i.e. inwardly or outwardly of handle 45. Rotation of the handle causes nut 42 to rotate, but the extension shank cannot rotate due to the action of the key 39 in the longitudinal keyway 40. Consequently, the extension shank can only move axially.

A pair of idler rollers 50 and 52 are mounted for rotation on one surface of frame part 30. Each idler roller has a groove 54 to receive the circumferential ridge formed by the double scam 22. Rollers 50 and 52 are spaced from each other to establish a firm support of the can opener on the can. At a position preferably on a line which bisects the space between the rollers 50 and 52, there is a cutting wheel 55 mounted for rotation on a spindle 56. The spindle is carried by an enlarged flattened part 58 at the inner end of shank 41. Roller 63 is made integral or otherwise secured to the cutting wheel 55, and it has a circumferential groove 62 within which the ridge nests thereby forming with rollers 55) and 52 a three-point contact for guiding the can opener. All rollers aremounted for rotation on spindles such as spindle 56, there being spindle 53 for roller 52 and spindle 51 for roller 50.

In use of the can opener, it is deemed evident that the can opener is placed on the container so that all of the rollers have the ridge 22 nested therein. By turning handle 45 and at the same time rotating the can opener with respect to the can or the can with respect to the can opener, the cutting wheel 55 will gradually cut through skirt 16 in the region of groove 18 thereby severing the closure from the container so that it may be lifted therefrom.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily. occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opener comprising the combination of a frame having an arcuate portion adapted to extend partially around a can, a housing having spaced walls provided at one end of said arcuate portion, said walls being provided with aligned apertures, a handle having an end mounted for rotation in one of said apertures, an extension shank extending slidably and non-rotatably through said other of said apertures, said handle having an axial passage freely and slidably receiving a portion of said extension shank, means drivingly connecting the part of said handle between said walls of said housing to said extension shank to extend and retract said extension shank in response to rotation of said handle in the clockwise or counterclockwisedirection, said means being disposed between and engaging said spaced Walls of said housing to prevent sliding of the handle relative to the housing, a cutter carried by the inner end of said extension shank, and means connected with said cutter for guiding said cutter and said frame on the container as the container and frame are caused to move relative to each other.

2. A can opener comprising the combination of a frame having an arcuate portion adapted to extend partially around a can, a housing having spaced walls provided at one end of said arcuate portion, said walls being provided with aligned apertures, a handle having an end mounted for rotation in one of said apertures, an extension shank extending slidably and non-rotatably through said other of said apertures, said handle having an axial passage freely and slidably receiving a portion of said extension shank, means drivingly connecting the part of said handle between said walls of said housing to said extension shank to extend and retract said extension shank in response to rotation of said handle in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, said means being disposed between and engaging said spaced walls of said housing to prevent sliding of the handle relative to the housing, a cutter carried by the inner end of said extension shank, and means connected with said cutter for guiding said cutter and said frame on the container as the container and frame are caused to move relative to each other, said guiding means including a grooved roller connected to said cutter, said cutter being in the form of a wheel, and at least one additional roller carried by the arcuate portion of said frame to contact the container at a point spaced from contact therewith by the first mentioned roller. 5

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for adjusting said extension shank includes a nut attached to said handle, said extension shank having external threads received within said nut, said shank also having a longitudinal keyway, and a key carried by said frame and engaged in said keyway to prevent rotation of said shank when said handle is rotated.

4. In a can opener, the combination of an arcuate frame having a span greater than a half-circle and adapted t9 extend partially around the side wall of a can, a pair of rotatable guide rollers mounted at circumferentially spaced points on one end portion of said frame and adapted to engage the side wall at one side of the stated can, an open-sided housing provided on the other end portion of said frame and including a pair of spaced walls provided with a pair of coaxial apertures having their axis extending diametrically of said frame and bisecting the space between said pair of guide rollers, a screwthreaded shank extending slidably but non-rotatably through the apertures of said housing, a rotatable cutter carried by said shank for engaging the side Wall of the stated can at the side thereof diametrically opposed to said guide rollers, and an adjusting nut rotatably mounted between and engaging said spaced walls of said housing and operatively engaging said shank whereby the shank may he slid to move said cutter toward and away from said guide rollers.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 together with an elongated handle provided with an axial bore slidably and rotatably receiving said shank therein, said handle being provided at one end thereof with a tubular portion rotatably disposed in the aperture in one of the spaced walls of said housing and secured to said adjusting nut whereby the nut may be rotated by rotation of said handle, the engagement of said nut with said spaced walls preventing sliding of the handle relative to said housing.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said shank is provided with a longitudinal keyway, and a key provided in the aperture of one of said spaced walls of said housing, said key engaging said keyway whereby to permit sliding but prevent rotation of the shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,584 Norman Oct. 30, 1900 940,932 Kircher Nov. 23, 1909 1,219,971 Lutz Mar. 30, 1917 1,560,067 Luber Nov. 3, 1925 2,189,341 Dumont Feb. 6, 1940 2,515,362 Von der Lieth July 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 8 G y M y 1, 1. 2 

